Infinitely variable transmission



Aug. 21, 1951 w. T. ROSSELL INFINITELY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION Filed Sept. 15, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR. W/LL/AM T/POiSfLL g- 1951 w. 'r. ROS'SELL 2,565,148

INFINITELY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION Filed Sept. 15, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l 26 9 39 10 g INVENTOR.

WILL/14M TROSSELL BY 4% W 04:,

W. T. ROSSELL INFINITELY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION Aug. 21, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 15, 1947 IN V EN TOR. W/L LIAM T RUSSELL 't-he 'type described masses-"and the means for causing the 'masses Patented Aug. 21, 1951 "UNITED srAT-es PATENT oFFlcE INFINITELY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION -William '1. Rossell, New York, N.'Y.

Application September 15, 1947; SerialNo. 774,163

' 19 Claims. 1

"This invention relates to transmissions for {transferrin the rotation of a driving shaft to a driven shaft at'the same speed,or at a lesser speed-with increased torque. A principal object of the invention is to provide-a transmission having an infinitely variable speed ratio between its driving and driven shafts, the ratio at all times 1 being automatically determined by the --torque'- requirements of the-driven member relatiVeto the speed and torque of the driving shaft.

(More specifically it is an object of the invention angular displacement a1 between the prime mover and "the oscillatingmass; and Tzaz *bein the work required to overcome the friction torqueTe over an angular displacement a2 between the "oscillating mass-and the driven shaft, thus providing 1 an infinitely variable transmission.

further 'objectis toprovide an infinitely variable transmission of very high efficiency by using oscillating masses as inertia means rather than electrical or hydraulicmeans thus eliminating slippage conventionally expected-of transmissions-of this type.

Another object is to provide a transmission of in which the oscillating to oscillate, will be mounted on the driven shaft thus obtaining a compactness "of design.

-More particularly, it is the object of this invention to provide an infinitely variable transmission bythe use of three shafts, either of--which may be the driving, another of which may be the driven andthe third of which-acts as a reaction shaft. The reaction shaft may rotate or it may act as a fixed base. Accordin to'my invention one shaft ca'rries means for creating a fixed pattern of'rotationsuch that anypoint on-the pattern has an oscillating motion, the same shaft carriesi' orlisaappropriately connected to arr-oscillating'zmeans which, by its oscillations actsas'a qd'y'namidforce and which oscillates at a speed (equal to or. proportional to the relative relation "betweeni'the: driving an'd the driven shaft, another' of'thefshafts'having a restraining means active the oscillatingsmeansxat points always 2 angularly disposed to thefixed pattern to cause theoscillating-means tocreate a torque action on its shaft and a torque reaction'on theshaft carrying the restraining means. The torque thus 5 created is a driving torque and the reaction-is accepted atleast in part on a reaction shaft or-fixed base which relieves the system of a portion of the torque reaction.

Another object is to provide a driving and a lo driven shaft to mount on one of the shafts an oscillati-ng means in the form of an'inertia mass or a spring capa-ble of producing a 'dynamic force under oscillations imposed thereon, to oscillate said' oscillating means according to: the relative l5, rotations '-of-saidshafts, to setup 'a fixed pattern means, to provide means responsive to-the fixed pattern meansfor constraining the motions ofthe oscillating means within the fixed pattern by restraining said oscillating meansat -apoint which is always angularly disposed to the fixed pattern,-the-fixed pattern means and the restraining-means thus acting as a pattern dictatingmeanstw-hich angularly' follows the oscillating means, the oscillating-means by virtue thipf the restraint thus imposed creates a torque --on= the shaft upon--which it is mounted and'the reaction of this-torque is-accepted partially on a reaction shaft or on a fixed base which removes it fr-om thetransmission system.

Other objects and advantages will become hereinaf-t'er morefully apparent asreference had I to the accompanying drawings in which my invention is illustrated by way of example and in which Figure 1 is arielevation of a driving shaftand a driven shaft connected for operation by-my improved transmission,

Figure-'2 is an elevation showing the driving "shz'i-ft-arid-the adjacent end of thedriven shaft 40 with the reciprocating motion producing mechanism,rota-ted through 90 from the position shown in Figure 1.

' Figu-re' 3is a*diametric section taken along the line 3-'3 of'Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a diametric section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5" is a diametric sectionalong the line '5'5--of Figure-=4 through one hydraulic control 'valvesunitshowing' the casing and movable vane in one position,

'Figure B isa view'similar to Figure 5 showing "the-casing and movable vane inanother posi- 'tion,.and

Figures 7,- 8 ands are diagrams showing the forces involved and the resultant-driving torque,

More particularly, I designates the driving shaft driven by an engine or other prime mover (not shown). This shaft carries a gear 2 which engages a gear 3 keyed to a shaft 4 rotatably mounted in the driven shaft 5. The shaft 4 has two crank arms 6 keyed thereto. Pivotally connected to the outer end of each crank arm 6 is a link each of these links being pivotally connected to the lower end of a rocking lever 50. The two rocking levers 59 are mounted on the outer ends of a rock shaft 5|, rockably mounted in a bearing supported by a bracket 52 welded or otherwise fixedly mounted on the driven shaft 5. A further shaft 53 connects the ends of the rocking levers 59 together. Pivotally mounted on this shaft 53 intermediate its ends is a connecting rod 8. This connecting rod may thus reciprocate in a plane which contains the axis of the driven shaft 5. The shafts I and 5 are co-axial. The purpose of the construction thus far described is to provide a means for obtaining a reciprocatory motion according to the relative speeds of the shafts I and 5 and to connect these shafts for operation in any speed relation as may be determined by some additional means. There are many other known Ways of accomplishing this purpose, the illustration being merely intended to illustrate one way of obtaining this motion.

Extendin diametrically through the shaft 5 is a shaft 9 having a rod I pivotally mounted thereon for oscillation through an arc as permitted by the divergent slots II in the shaft and as required by the reoiprocations of the connecting rod 8 to which it is pivotally secured at I2.

Pivotally mounted at I3 on the outer ends of the rod I ii is a ring I4 having a peripheral groove I5.

In spaced relation with the shaft 9 is a further shaft I 6 also extending diametrically through the shaft 5, parallel with the shaft 9. This shaft I6 has a second rod II pivotally mounted thereon for oscillation as permitted by the divergent slots IS in the shaft 5 and as required by a connecting rod IS pivotally connected thereto at one end and pivotally connected to the connection 52 at its other end. The two rods I0 and I! must therefore oscillate together and must always remain parallel.

Pivotally mounted on the outer ends of the rod I! is a second ring ZI having a peripheral groove 22.

The construction and operation of these two rings will be better understood now with reference to Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

The ring I4, being pivotally mounted on the ends of the rod Ill, has universal movement with respect to the shaft 5. It has two diametrically opposite slots 23 engaged by arms or fingers 24 carried by two inertia masses 25. These masses are rotatably mounted on shafts 26 extending radially from the shaft 5 and co-axially with the shaft 9. These masses thus rotate with the shaft 5, and oscillating movement of the ring I4 causes oscillating movements of the masses.

Pivotally mounted in bearings 27 are three rocking arms 28a, 28b and 280 each of which extends around an arc of the ring [4 of approximately 90 and each of which carries a roller 29a, 29b and 290 respectively which engages the peripheral groove I5. The three rollers which act as pivots for the ring I4 are equally spaced about the ring and therefore contact the groove I5 at points 120 apart.

The ring 2I has slots 30 to receive the ends of the rod H. A further rod 3I is fixedly secured on the shaft 5 and extends radially therefrom. The ring 2I is pivotally mounted on the ends 32 of this rod. The axis of the rod 3| intersects the axis of the shaft I6, forming an angle a therewith. Thus, as the rod II oscillates about the shaft I6 under the influence of the connecting rods 8 and I9 the ring 2I is caused to oscillate about the rod I"! and about the relatively fixed axis 3I. As the shaft 5 rotates the rin 2I follows a wobble motion according to a fixed pattern. The mechanism causing this wobble motion is hereinafter referred to as the pattern forming means.

Arms 33 carry the rollers 34a, 34b and 340 at their outer ends for engaging the peripheral groove 22 of the ring 2|. There are three of these arms 33, and hence, the three rollers 34a, 34b, 340 are equally spaced about the ring 2I, and are, therefore, 120 apart. These rollers are each horizontally in line with a corresponding roller 29a, 290 of the ring I4. The other end of each of the. arms 33 is carried by a hydraulic casing 35a, 35b, 350.

Each casing is rotatably mounted on a shaft 36 carried by bearings 36a. The bearings 36a and also the bearings 21 of Figure 3, in the form of the invention being described, are all mounted on a fixed base 39, as for instance on the chassis or frame of the vehicle when the transmission is being employed to connect an engine with a propeller shaft thereof. A fixed vane 37 (Figure 5) has a bearing 38 extending through the casing and secured to the fixed base 39. This vane is always parallel with a plane longitudinally bisecting the central position of the arms 33. A second vane 40 is mounted on the shaft 36 for rotation therewith. Each casing 35a, 35b and 350 is freely rotatable with respect to a shaft 36 and actually rotates on the bearing 38 which is also secured to the fixed base 39.

The interior of each casing 35a, 35b, 350, is thus divided into two chambers by the two vanes 31 and 40, the chambers being of equal size when the vanes are in line with each other. Extending from one chamber to the other is a passage 4I guarded by non-return valves 42 and 43 and having an opening 44 intermediate the length thereof, this opening being slightly wider than the thickness of the vane 40 as designated by the letters I) and c.

The action of this hydraulic unit is as follows: the arm 33 may rotate the casin 35a freely about the shaft 36, there being no fluid resistance to such movement at any time. The vane 3! is fixed and never moves out of its original position. However, the vane 45 is movable. With the arm 33 in the position shown in Figure 5 the vane 40 can move an amount equal to the opening b or to the opening 0 but it can not exceed this distance because the chambers are both filled with liquid. If the arm 33 is rotated to the right, as shown in Figure 6, then the vane 40 may rotate to the right also, displacing the liquid from the right chamber through the opening 44, past the valve 42 and into the left chamber.

The vane 40 can not rotate to the right through a substantially greater angle than the arm 33 because, when it reaches the right edge of the opening 44 it can not displace any more liquid. Furthermore, the vane 40 can not move counter to the direction of movement of the arm 33. It is thus seen that the arms 33 are each free to rotate" under the influence iof the rollers 34a, 34b; 34c without:.restraint by the hydraulic unit; that the hydraulic unit permits but does not force the vanes- 49 .to follow the movements of the arms- .33, andthat -the 'hydraulic" units pro- Lhibit the vanes from moving counter to the direction 50f movement ofthe arms 33.

Eaeh-Lof theshafts 36' has-anar-mJSa; 4511, 450

extending radially "therefrom, exteriorlyof the casings 35. lThe links a, 4lb,-4-'lc connect each of these arms 45a, 45b; fic respectively witlithe arm 2 8a, 2 811,12 8c. horizontally opposite thereto,

to reciprocate. lTherodsJlll and Il willoscillate together. The. ring 2 lawill be oscillated aboutthe fixed axis 3! thus oscillatingutherollers 34b-and 340 out of the plane of the paper (Figure 4) but in opposite phaseor directionwhile the" roller 34a, being co-aXial with the shaft 3 I has no'tendency to move and remainsstationary. If we assume, first, that the roller 34b moves away from the reader then its arm 33 will follow it and the casing 351) will similarly moveso thatthe casing 351; will be in the position shown in Figure 5 but the vanes 31 and 40 will be in the position shown in Figure 4. However, due to movement of the casing 35b the vane M1 is now permitted to follow the movement of the casing. Similarly, the roller 340 will move toward the reader (Figure 4) and the casing 35c 'will'rotate .tothe left (Figure 5) through an angle'equal to the rotation of the casing 3%. Its vane 40 will bein the position shown in Figure 5 but it is free to follow the move- 1 1 ment of the casing 35c.

The ring Hi will be oscillatedby the rod Ill. The link 41a is restrained against movement because the vane 40 of the casing- 35a has-not moved. The arm 28a and the roller 29a therefore can not move so that the ring 40 must oscillate about an axispassing through the axis :of the roller 29a and the axis of the shaft 5. Since the arm l9 moves parallel with the arm H, the roller 29c moves out of the plane of the paper (Figure 3) toward the reader in phase with similar movement by the roller 340. The arm-28c thus rotates in its bearing 21 and the link 41c connecting the pivotMG-owith the arm-45c causes the vanefllof the casing 350 to move in the direction of movement of the casing-35c.

Similarly, the roller 29?) moves out of the plane of the paper away from the reader (Figure 3). The pivot 46 thus moves its link 41b causing movement of the arm'45b and rotation of the vane 40 of the casing 357) in the direction in which the casing 35 has already moved, the direction of movement'being in opposite direction to the movement of the casing 35c and its vane 40.

Thus, the'ring 2 I .forms a, pattern and the hydraulic valve unit with the connecting rods 41a, 41b; 41c reflect this pattern and confine the movements of the ring [4 within the pattern. The ring I4, the hydraulic units and the connecting rods together may be termed the pattern dictating means which is distinguishablehfrom movement dictating means in that the ring I4 is not forced, but merely permitted, to follow the movementof. the ring 2l= but. itisrestrained 6 against lfollowing 1 any motherstpatternr or -lihov ment;

As the ring l4 moves from.oneextremeiposition toward its central position (as illustrated in Figure 1) it accelerates. the masses 25 thus storing kinetic energy. The reaction of this accelerating force is -'a torque applied to the shaft 5 "by the leverage of the weights 25 on their shafts 26. As the ring I'd passes its centralpositionit decelerates the masses thus causing them to give up their'stored energyas' a torque actionon the shaft 5. Thetorque action on the shaft 5 resulting from deceleration is-in the same'direction as the torque reaction'on-this shaft during acceleration. The torque action during acceleration-and the torque reaction during decelerationare' both reacted partially against thedrivingshaft l an'd partially-against the "fixed-supports 39.

The rods l0 and l'l-oscilla-te in an identical manner, both through an angular *amplitude B. Since the rod 10 isat an angle'A= with thediametral aXis of the ring' 2l'the angular amplitude of the ring 2 l about theshaft 3 l -is .cos A The masses 25 are. connected to the ring ILby arms. lying on a diametral axisatan angular distance al from the rod 'l0. Q It fol-lowssthat; ii the radius. of .the vring l4 isR, theradiusvofsthe .arc described by the. point .of the ring it where it meets .the. armHZLisRcos (.A+a) and the length of the are described -.by Hthatpoint RB cos (A+a). The arc-described.byithe.correspondingipoint of .fthev-arm'lfl does. not-coincide with this are vbecause .one about. a. diametral axis passing through-the connection of the arms 24 and the ring -andithe=other=is aboutthe axis of thefshafts 2fi-but the lengths of these two arcs differ very little. and we canuse RB cos (A+a) .as thelengthof the are described by the" arms 24. i

.As the radius of the are described by am arms24Tis cos a, we find .thatfthe amplitude of oscillation of the massesi25 is Ifap is the frequency of the osc'illation in radians per unit ofctime, the oscillation of the masses-is represented by G sin pt; the speed ofithat oscillation by 'Gp cos "lot; andthe accelerationby C'p sin"pt. And if the mass moment of inertia of the masses is J, the accelerati-ng-(or decelerating) torque necessary to'prod-ucethat oscillation is G.Ip :sin pt. :S'ucha torque may be'representedbythe product of a force F- byithe radius R: cos 0,101 the larc des'ci'ibed bythe armsabout the axis- 26; as.indicatedinthezdiagram Figure- '1. Hence FR cosa: -.GJ1 ;sin"pt In turn, the force F'has'a'- component F1=F cos/(G sin pt) which is contained in aplane determined-by the axis of the shafts 26 and 5 and is reacted bythe bearings of theshaft 5; anda component Fz=Fsin (G sin pt) which is at right angles with the axis of the-shaft 5- and at distance 'R'Lsin a'fromit. Hence this last component produces a couple T=F R sin a=F sin (G sin pt)=sin.aa: sin (Gsinupt) cos a which tries to rotate'the shaft' E.

7 As pt varies from thru its values, the value of sin pt passes from 0 to 1 to 0 to 1, etc., hence T Varies from T:0 to T=GJp tan a a; $111 G cos a If a=30 and G=30, T varies from T=0 to by the values T2 and T3 of the components of T1: T2=T1 cos a=FR cos a and these couples tend to rotate arms 28a and 280 and, through the links 41a and 410, the arms 45a and 450 with their vanes 40, in the same direction, as diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 7.

At the same time the link It acting on the ring causes the two arms carrying the rollers 34a and 340 to move in a similar manner.

From this and from the construction of the hydraulic units 35a and 350 which permits their vanes 40 to rotate as the casings thereof rotate, it is seen that the impulse received from the masses causes the arms 28a and 280 to follow the motions of the arms 33 which carry the rollers 34a and 340 and therefore to keep the ring I4 moving parallel with the ring 2 I.

Now suppose that the shaft 5 is permitted to rotate, first to a position such that the shaft 3| attains a position half way between the position shown in Figure 3 and the position of the rod IT. The oscillation of the ring 2I will occur about the shaft 3I, the rollers 34a and 340 will move equally and in the same phase whereas the roller 34b will move to a greater extent and in opposite phase. Since the pivots 29a and 3441 are no longer in line with the couple T1 the couple T1 has a further component T4, as illustrated in Figure 8. Each of these components through its corresponding roller acts on a corresponding arm L of the ring I4 and through the links 47a, 41b and 410 on the corresponding shaft 36 in order to keep the corresponding vanes moving with their valve housings.

As the shaft 3| next attains the position of the rod I! (Figure 3) the roller 340 is in line with the shaft 3| and We have the same conditions of operation as shown in Figure 3 with the exception that the roller 340 with its arm 33', instead of the roller 34a, now has no tendency to move. The motion of the ring 2| is therefore a wobble motion and the pattern is such that the vanes of one hydraulic unit return to their aligned position with each 60 rotation of the shaft 5.

The action of the force F exerted by the arms 24 on the ring I4, as long as the shaft 5 remains stationary accelerates one-half the time and decelerates the other half so that the balance is equal except for mechanical friction in the articulations. When the shaft 5 starts rotating the balance is disrupted and an excess of accelerating work becomes necessary in order to compensate for the work done by the shaft 5. This is supplied by the prime mover shaft I. Thus a transmission is obtained by which work produced at any speed by a prime mover shaft is transferred into work done at any lower speed by a driven shaft.

In the foregoing description the shaft I has III been described as the driving shaft, the shaft 5 as the driven shaft and the supports 39 as a fixed base. If more convenient, or if desired for any other reason, the shaft 5 may be employed as the driving shaft and the shaft I as the driven shaft, no change in the arrangement illustrated being necessary. The action of this arrangement on shaft 5 depends on the relative angular speed V1 of shaft I with respect to a base 39 which has been assumed as being fixed, i. e. as having an angular speed V1 equal to zero.

But the action remains the same when the speeds are changed provided their relations remain the same.

The base 39 can be an action or a reaction member or shaft and either the shaft I or 5 can be the driving or driven shaft. In other words the device is entirely reversible with either member I, 5 or 39 being the driven member.

The invention is thus capable of various modification without departing from the spirit thereof and I desire to be extended protection as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An infinitely variable transmission connecting a driving and a driven shaft comprising energy storage means, a ring universally mounted on said driven shaft, said energy storage means being operatively connected to said ring member and to said driven shaft, pattern dictating means requiring said ring to operate with a Wobble motion about an oscillating shaft oscillably mounted on the axis of said driven shaft and about a pivot angularly disposed to said oscillating shaft, said oscillating shaft rotating with said driven shaft, means requiring said pivot to progress around said ring during rotation of said driven shaft, said ring member acting upon said energy storage means to store energy therein during a portion of its wobble motion and reacting against a fixed base during such action, said ring member being acted upon by said energy storage means during a subsequent portion of its Wobble motion to impart a torque to said driven shaft.

2. In an infinitely variable transmission connecting a driving and a driven shaft, energy storage means carried by said driven shaft, an oscillable member carried by said driven shaft and oscillable in a relatively fixed path with respect thereto, said energy storage means and said oscillable members being articulated to a ring member at angularly spaced points, said oscillable member forming a fixed diameter of said ring member, said ring member being mounted for universal movement with respect to said driven shaft, pattern dictating means restraining the pivotal movement of said ring on said oscillable member by prohibiting the oscillation of one point on said ring member while allowing the remainder thereof to be oscillated by said oscillable member whereby said energy storage means is oscillated alternately to store and to give up energy to said driven shaft, said pattern dictating means causing the point on said ring which it restrains against movement progressively to move around said ring with rotation of said driven shaft.

An infinitely variable transmission connecting a driving and a driven shaft comprising energy storage means operable in response to an. oscillating motion imposed thereon alternately to store and to give up energy, a ring member universally mounted on said driven shaft, an oscillable member mounted on said driven shaft and intersecting the-axisthereof, a-ring member pivotally mounted on the ends of said oscillating shaft, hinge members pivotally mounted on a fixed base, each having'pivotal sliding connection with said ring member, and pattern dictating means requiring said-ring member to follow a wobble motion about said oscillating member and about a second axis -angularly spaced from said oscillating member, said/pattern dictating means also including means-reactive against a fixed support and active progressively to restrain said pivotal connections against oscillation whereby said energy storage means stores energy during a portion of its oscillation and. imparts torque to said driven shaft during a subsequentportion of its oscillating movement.

4. An infinitely variable. transmission connecting a driving and a drivenshaft comprising energy storage means responsive to. an oscillating movement alternately to store'and. to give up energy, a ring. member universally mounted on said driven shaft, means impartingtosaid ring a wobble motion about an oscillable axis intersecting the axis of said drivenshaft and about a pivot pointon its periphery, angularly spaced from said axis, patternforming means also carried by said driven shaft followinga fixed wobble pattern, means reactive against a.. .fixed base operatively connecting said pattern.- forming meansand said ring restraining. said pivot point against oscillation and causing saidipivot, point to. follow the rotation of saiddriven shaft, said energy storage means, being. operatively connected to said ring. at apoint always angularly spaced from said. oscillable axisand from said pivot pointsaid ring memberby its. wobble motion causing said energy storage means to os-. cillate and, to store. energythrough a portionof its oscillating movement, said energy storage means imparting a' torque totsaid drivenshaft during a subsequent portionof its. oscillating movement.

5. An infinitely variabletransmission connect? ing a driving and a driven shaft comprising en-l ergy storage means adapted to store-.andto give up. energy, in response to. anoscillating movement imposed thereon, a ring member universally mounted on said drivenv shaft, means (imparting to said ring a wobble motion about an oscillable axis intersecting the axis of said driven shaft and about a selected one of a plurality of pivot points on the rim thereof hingedlymountedon a fixed base, said energy storage means being.

articulated to said ring at a point angularly. spaced from said axis'whereby it is caused to. oscillate during rotative movement of. saidring, asecond wobble plate concentric witlisaid driven shaft, means causingsaid'secondiwobble plate to wobble according to" a constanttpatternduring rotation of said driven shaft, hinged arms swingably mounted on a'fixedbase having'pivotal bearingpoints slidably engaging. the second wobbleplate and free tofollow themotionsof the periphery thereof, second wobble plate and said arms with theirsupporting base comprising pattern dictating means, means connecting said pattern dictating means with the pivotal points on said ring, said means progressively selecting and restraining successive --poin-tson=-said ring against oscillation while permitting theremainder ofsaid ring to refiect the movements of said wobble plate, said-energy storage means during its oscillations under the-influence of said ring acting. upon said driven shaft .to impart a torquethereto and reacting, in .part, against said fixed base.

iii;

6, An :infinitely variable transmission connecting.;;a driving-and a'drivenshaft comprising 811-. ergy storage means operative in response to oscillations alternately to store and to give up. energy, an oscillating; shaft .pivotally mounted on an axis normal to and intersecting 'the. axis of said'driven shaft: a ring pivotally mounted on the ends; of said oscillating shaft, a first-set-of hinge-.-.-means mounted onv a fixed basehaving. bearingsengaging agroove in said ring, a wobble ring mounted on saiddriven shaft having a fixed axis ofioscillation .angularly disposed to the os-.- cil-latingshaft of. said ring and adapted to followa wobblesmotion of constant pattern, a second set of"hingemeanspivotally supported on a fixed :basezat-rone end :and each having bearings at their outer sends engaging .a groove in the periphery of said-wobble tring,, 'the.hinge' means momentarily in iinewithraidzfixed axis having no tendency to 1 oscillate xailrile the remaining said hinge meansmscillate infollowing the motions ofpsaidzlwobble ring,'and follow-up means connectingxsaidrfirstset .ofhinge means with said second set of hinge means, said follow up means permitting .Lthe hinge-means of said first set to follow'ithe direction of-swing of fthe hinge means of saidsecond set and opposing the swingingof thehingemeans ofsaid first set in a direction counter to the hinge means of saidfirst set in a 'direotionoounter to the direction of swing--of those of said second set.-

'7'. Inan -infinitely variable transmission con= necting a driving and a driven shaft; energy storage means carriedby the driven shaft and active in response to a portion of an oscillation tostore energy and through a subsequent portion of the oscillation to impart the stored 'energy to said driven shaft, an oscillable member carried by said driven-shaft and adapted to oscillate dureingdifferential speed relations between said drive ing-and driven shafts in a relatively fixed path with respect thereto; a ring member. pivotally mounted on'said oscillable member andjhaving. universal movementwith respect to said driven shaft, said energy storage means. being articulatedto said ringmember at points angularly spaced-from the connection of. saidv oscillable member to said ring member, hinge members operatively connected to said ring. member at-a plurality of angularly spaced points, and pattern dictating means alternately and. progressively restraining the .movementsof said hinge members thereby confining the movements of said ring member within a pattern, said pattern dictating means comprising. a second shaft carried by said driven shaft and oscillable in armed patternwith respect thereto, a second ring articulated to said second shaft and also articulated to.a' third shaftintegral with and-radiating from said drivenshaft whereby said second ring oscillates in a fixed pattern while rotating. with said driven shaft, means causing said rings to remain always approximately parallel. to. each other, and means oscillating said rings about the center. of said driven shaft;

8; An infinitely variable transmission connecting a driving and a driven shaft comprising energy storage means operative in response-to oscillationsalternately to. store and to give up en-- ergy, an oscillating: shaft pivotally mounted'on saiddriven shaft tooscillate in a plane containing the. axis of that shaft, a ring pivotally mounted on the ends of said oscillating shaft, said energy storage means being articulated to'said ring;

a set of hinged arms pivotally mounted at one end on a fixed base and having bearings on their other ends engaging a groove in said ring, said arms being swingable with said ring in its oscillations on said oscillating shaft, a fixed shaft radial of said driven shaft angularly offset from and laterally spaced from said oscillating shaft, a second ring pivotally mounted on said fixed shaft concentric with said driven shaft, a second oscillating shaft having its axis intersecting the axis of said fixed shaft and the axis of said driven shaft for oscillations in a plane containing the axis of said driven shaft, said second oscillating shaft being articulated to said second ring, said oscillating shafts being connected by a link and oscillating together at a speed proportionate to the differential speed of rotation of said driving and said driven shafts, a second set of arms having bearings at one end engaging the periphery of said second ring and having a control means mounted on a fixed base associated with their other ends, said control means permitting free pivotal movements of said arms whereby said bearings freely follow the oscillations of said second ring, said control means incoporating a follow-up means capable of following the motions of said second set of arms and incapable of moving when said arms are stationary and incapable of moving counter to said arms, and links connecting the follow-up means of each of said second set of arms with a point on one of said first set of arms intermediate the length thereof, said second ring rotating according to a fixed wobble motion, said first set of arms and said follow-up means reflecting the pattern of said wobble motion and constraining said first ring against motions counter to said wobble motion, said first ring alternately imparting accelerations and decelerations of an oscillating cycle to said energy storage means, said energy storage means acting on said driven shaft in giving up energy stored during acceleration to impart a torque.

9. An infinitely variable transmission connecting a driving and a driven shaft comprising energy storage means operative in response to oscillations alternately to store and to give up energy, an oscillating shaft pivotally mounted on said driven shaft to oscillate in a plane containing the axis of that shaft, a ring pivotally mounted on the ends of said oscillating shaft, said energy storage means being articulated to said ring, a set of hinged arms pivotally mounted at one end on a fixed base and having bearings on their other ends engaging a groove in said ring, said arms being swingable with said ring in its oscillations on said oscillating shaft, a fixed shaft radial of said driven shaft, angularly offset from and laterally spaced from said oscillating shaft, a second ring pivotally mounted on said fixed shaft concentric with said driven shaft, a secondoscillating shaft having its axis intersecting the axis of said fixed shaft and the axis of said driven shaft for oscillations in a plane containing the axis of said driven shaft, said second oscillating shaft being articulated to said second ring, said oscillating shafts being connected by a link and oscillating together at a speed proportionate to the differential speed of rotation of said driving and said driven shafts, a second set of arms having bearings at one end engaging the periphery of said second ring and having a control means mounted on a fixed base associated with their other ends, said control means comprising a hydraulic casing having a fluid chamber therein carried by each arm of said second set, a fixed vane within said chamber mounted on a fixed base, a second vane in said chamber movable With respect to said fixed vane, fluid passages in the walls of said chamber substantially around said chamber having a common opening into said chamber and having openings at their outer ends guarded by non-return valves, said arms of said second set being freely movable with he motions of said second ring to swing said casings, said vanes each being connected to an arm of said first set and movable in the direction of movement of said casings but individually restrained against movement when its casing remains stationary and restrained by said nonreturn valves against movement counter to the movement of said casings whereby said second ring, said sets of arms and said control means acts as a pattern dictating means confining the movements of said first ring.

10. In an infinitely variable speed transmission connecting a driving and a driven shaft, inertia means carried by the driven shaft and movable with respect thereto, means also carried by said driven shaft oscillable in response to a differential speed relation between the driving and the driven shaft and active upon said inertia means for storing energy in said means, means transferring the energy stored in said inertia means into a driving torque on said driven shaft and means reacting said torque against a relatively stationary base.

11. In an infinitely variable speed transmission connecting a driving and a driven shaft, inertia means carried by the driven shaft and oscillable thereon, an oscillating member also carried by said driven shaft caused to oscillate by differential speed relation between the driving and the driven shafts and operatively connected to said inertia means, said oscillating member acting to store energy in said inertia means throughout a portion of its oscillating movement and to trans-- fer the energy thus stored into torque on said driven member through another portion of its oscillating movement, and means connected to said oscillating means restraining its oscillations and reacting said torque against a relatively stationary support.

12. In an infinitely variable speed transmission connecting a driving and a driven shaft, inertia means carried by the driven shaft and relatively movable with respect thereto, an oscillating member also carried by the driven shaft and caused to oscillate by relative rotative movement between the driving and driven shafts, said oscillating member when oscillating on a portion of its stroke imposing an acceleration on said inertia means thereby causing said inertia means to impose a torque on said driven shaft in one direction, said oscillating member when operating through the subsequent portion of its stroke imposing a deceleration on said driven shaft thereby causing said inertia means to impose a further torque on said driven shaft in the same direction, and means carried by said driven shaft restraining said oscillating member in its oscillations and reacting said torques against a relatively stationary base.

13. In an infinitely variable transmission, the combination of a driving shaft, a driven shaft, an inertia means mounted on said driven shaft and oscillable thereon in planes parallel with the axis thereof to set up a torque on said driven shaft, a ring pivotally mounted on a shaft oscillably mounted on said driven shaft engaging said inertia means, means responsive to a differential third shaft normal to the axis of said'driven" shaft, a ring operatively connected to said inertia means at a point angularly disposed with respect to said third shaft, said ring being mounted on said driven shaft for universal move ment about the axis thereof, means causing one axis of said ring to oscillate in a plane normal to the axis of said third shaft, roller means supported from a relatively fixed base engaging the periphery of said ring at points angularly disposed with respect to said third shaft and with respect to the point of contact of said ring and said mass whereby oscillation of the axis of said ring causes oscillation of said inertia means thereby creating a torque on said driven shaft, and pattern dictating means restraining said ring at one point in its oscillations and permitting said point to progress around the periphery of said ring during relative rotation of said driven and said driving shafts.

15. In an infinitely variable speed transmission, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, inertia means carried by the driven shaft and oscillable about a third shaft normal to the axis of said driven shaft, a ring mounted on said driven shaft for universal movement with respect thereto and operatively engaging said inertia means at a point angularly disposed to the axis of said third shaft, means responsive to a differential in speed of rotation of said driving and driven shafts causing one axis of said ring to oscillate in a plane containing the axis of said driven shaft but angularly disposed with respect to the axis of said ring and said inertia means, contactors carried by arms swingably mounted on a fixed basis engaging said ring at spaced points around the periphery thereof, pattern dictating means requiring said ring to oscillate on an axis angularly disposed with respect to the axis of said third shaft, with respect to said one axis of the ring and with respect to the point of connection between said ring and said mass, said pattern-dictating means requiring said ring to oscillate on an axis angularly disposed with respect to the axis of said third shaft, with respect to said one axis of the ring and with respect to the point of connection between said ring and said mass, said pat-tern dictating means also permitting and controlling limited swingin movements of said arms and prohibiting movement in the arm of each contactor as its axis coincides with the axis of oscillation of said pattern dictating means.

16. In an infinitely variable transmission, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, inertia means carried on the driven shaft and mounted to oscillate in planes parallel to the axis of said driven shaft, a ring pivotally mounted on an oscillating shaft journalled on a shaft diametrically through said driven shaft, means reciprocating in response to a differential speed relation between said driving and 14 saiddriven: shafttfoc causing ;the;. oscillatiorriof; thezshaft-upon-which said ring is pivotally mount; ed; pattern forming: means requiring said ring: to. follow. aztwobble. motion; when said; driven; shaft rotates; and: an oscillating. motion' Whenrsaid." driven shaft; is stationary; said. ring oscillating; alsotonaa-zsecond axis angularly intersecting said one diameter, said second axis being determined by said pattern forming means, the resultant oscillation of said ring forcing said inertia meansto oscillate and to react against said ring; therforcev of this reaction being accepted at thearticulation of said oscillating shaft in said ringand at a peripheral bearing point on said ring Whichmoves progressively with the-rotation: of said driven shaft and as=determined-bysaid-pattern forming means.

17. In an infinitely variable transmission, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, inertia means mounted on said driven shaft for oscillation in planes parallel to the axis of said driven shaft, a ring mounted on said driven shaft for universal movement with respect thereto, said ring at its periphery being operatively connected to said inertia means at a point angularly removed from the axis of oscillation of said inertia means, reciprocating means imparting an oscillating motion to one axis of said ring during relative rotation of said driving and said driven shafts, said ring having a groove around the periphery thereof, swingable arms mounted in fixed bearings at one end and having bearing members at their other ends engaging said groove, pattern dictating means requiring said ring to oscillate also about a second axis which rotates with said driven shaft thereby imparting a Wobble motion to said ring and an oscillating motion to said inertia means, said inertia means reacting against said ring, the force of the reaction being accepted at the articulations of said ring and at the peripheral bearings of said ring, said pattern dictating means including means progressively restraining swinging movements of said arms whereby the point of restraint of said ring by said bearings progressively moves with rotation of said driven shaft.

18. The combination as set forth in claim 12 in which said pattern forming means comprises a second ring concentric with said driven shaft, a shaft rigid with said driven shaft extending diametrically therefrom and having bearings at each end, said second ring being mounted in said bearings, said shaft being angularly disposed with respect to the bearings of the first named ring and with respect to the point of connection of said inertia means and said first ring.

19. The combination as set forth in claim 12 in which said pattern dictating means comprises a second ring concentric with said driven shaft, a shaft rigid with said driven shaft extending diametrically therefrom at an angle to the articulations of the first named ring and at an angle to the connection of said inertia means and said first ring, said second ring being journalled on the outer ends of said rigid shaft, a link requiring said second ring to follow the oscillations of said first ring, said second ring having a peripheral groove, arms each swingably mounted at its outer end on a hydraulic housing and having bearings at its inner end engaging said peripheral groove, said housings each having one vane radial of said driven shaft carried by a fixed support, a second vane movable toward and away from said fixed vane by displacing hydraulic fluid within said housing, passages within said hous- 76 ing guarded by one-way valves restricting move- 15 ment of the fluid in said housing thereby restraining the movement of said movable vanes, links connecting each of said movable vanes to the arms associated with the first ring whereby a restraint of the movement of said vanes acts as the means to restrain movement of said arms.

WILLIAM T. ROSSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 19 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,736,789 Janssen Nov. 21, 1929 1,758,252 Gardner May 13, 1930 1,914,865 Rath June 20, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 62,944 Sweden Jan. 29, 1925 591,044 France June 26, 1925 238,423 Great Britain Aug. 20, 1925 349,101 Great Britain May 22, 1931 548,975 Great Britain Nov. 2, 942

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